Russia plans to man the moon by 2030

A Russian newspaper says they have acquired leaked drafts detailing the government's strategy to colonize the moon in the next 2 decades.

A 1963 model of the early Apollo lunar lander concept. (Photo: WIkimedia Commons)

“We are going to come to the moon forever," said Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin, in April.

And now, 50 years after America succeeded in the race to the moon, Russia is hoping to win the next leg. According to the Russian-language newspaper Izvestia and reported in The Moscow Times, Russia is planning on manning the moon as soon as 2030.

Izvestia said that it had gained access to documents by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Roscosmos federal space agency, Moscow State University and various space research institutes, outlining a three-phase plan toward colonizing Earth’s favorite satellite.

A robotic craft would be sent to the moon in the next few years, and by 2028, they would be ready to send manned missions. By 2030, according to plans, humans will be dispatched to set up the first colony using local resources. Moon-rock motel, anyone?

Izvestia said the document expressed expediency, noting that competition would be significant. "Leading space powers will expand and establish their rights to convenient lunar footholds to ensure future opportunities for practical use," the report says.

And now that we’ve done such a successful job of plundering Earth for resources, why not the moon? The moon may present a "treasure-trove" of rare and valuable minerals of substantial strategic importance, says NASA.

And indeed, Russia better hurry up if they plan to own our nearest celestial body anytime soon. A number of other countries are also developing lunar exploration projects. And the California-based company Moon Express has revealed their lunar lust via a new spacecraft designed to hasten their mission to mine the moon. Watch the company’s “go-team” video below; notice how they spin their goal as a “benefit for life on earth” … and then quietly mention the “trillions of dollars of accessible precious resources” they hope to uncover.